SURVEYING LOCAL BUSINESS – Lt. Gov. and Secretary of State Kim Guadagno visited Zack’s oak bar and restaurant at 232 Willow Ave. on Thursday to speak with Mayor Dawn Zimmer and Co-owner of the restaurant Sheila Nisler. (See brief.)

Lt. Governor and Secretary of State Kim Guadagno visited Zack’s oak bar and restaurant in Hoboken on Thursday. Guadagno surveyed the damage to the restaurant at 232 Willow Ave. and talked with co-owner Sheila Nisler as well as Mayor Dawn Zimmer.

Guadagno looked at the water damage to the bar and walls and also asked to see the basement. According to Nisler, Zack’s was very fortunate during the storm due to its location in the Hoboken Hospital grid. Zack’s was powered up and back open the Saturday after the storm. However, the restaurant still needs to shut down temporarily to make repairs. And flood insurance money has not yet come in for them.

“We have no idea what it’s going to cost. Our bar alone is from the late 1800s, and we want to keep it because there is not much of that old charm left here,” said Nisler.

Zimmer talked to Nisler and Guadagno about the current difficulties with the national flood insurance programs. Zimmer has been advocating for changes to flood insurance in urban environments ever since basement dwellings began to get denied after Hurricane Sandy.

Zimmer also spoke of the challenge that Hoboken currently faces trying to send out a dual message that Hoboken is still in need of help, yet is also open for business.

Guadagno said she has been speaking with the Department of Banking and Insurance in order to have them work harder to streamline the process of getting people their money.

Guadagno also said she’d like to see Hoboken’s Irish celebration turn into a "shop small business" incentive.

Zimmer stressed the importance of Hoboken residents registering with Rebuild Hoboken, not only for grants, but also so that the city has their information. After businesses and individuals get help, Zimmer said, she will focus on how to distribute grant money preemptively to make Hoboken more resilient for the next storm.

“We are going to try for grant money for things like our own high water vehicle, as well as designing a micro generator system for senior buildings, the housing authority, police and fire stations,” said Zimmer.

Hoboken ShopRite to reopen Feb. 9

More than three months after Hurricane Sandy devastated the ShopRite on Madison Street in Hoboken, the store will reopen its doors on Saturday, Feb. 9. Representatives from Inserra Supermarkets Inc. and Wakefern Food Corporation confirmed that the reopening and ribbon cutting will officially take place that day, with additional details to come.

Wakefern Food Corp representative Santina Stankevich said Friday that local politicians are expected to attend.

The deadline for Rebuild Hoboken Relief fund applications has been pushed back to Saturday, Feb. 9, and “Dancing with the Stars” performer Anna Demidova is set to appear at the gala for the fund on Feb 2.

The fund has been set up to help local residents, businesses, and non-profits get money to help them rebuild after Hurricane Sandy.

While there are many celebrities rumored to be attending the fundraising gala to raise awareness for the fund, Demidova has been confirmed by the press representative for Rebuild Hoboken. Ticket sales for the gala have been brisk and the event is expected to sell out.

So far, Rebuild Hoboken has collected $750,000 and the number continues to grow. In order to qualify, you must have a storm-related net loss of $5,000, after all other aid is deducted, and a Hoboken address.

To find out more visit www.rebuildhoboken.org

Hoboken Chamber of Commerce holiday decorating contest winners

The winners of the annual holiday decorating contest held by the Hoboken Chamber of Commerce were announced recently. The contest is open to any business in Hoboken and awards prizes based on the best looking window display for the season.

The grand prize of $500 and free advertising in local media was taken by Corporate Realty, 626 Washington St. Second place went to Right Angle Frames at 1108 Washington St., landing them $250. Third prize, $100, went to Mimosa Digital at 119 Washington St.

Hob’art Gallery running the Archeology of Color

The Hob’art gallery began an exhibition on Sunday, Jan. 13 that will run until Sunday, Feb. 17 called “Archeology of Color.” The exhibition can be viewed Thursday through Sunday from 1 to 5 p.m. and by appointment at the Monroe Center, 720 Monroe St. During the Sunday gallery walks on Jan. 20 and Feb. 17, there will be talks by the artists about their artwork. Archeology of Color relates to dialogues between artists and the power of color in artwork. A reception to meet the artists will be held on Saturday, Feb. 2 from 2 to 5 p.m. Gallery information can be obtained from the director, France Garrido at (201) 319-1504 or by emailing director@hob-art.org. The curator, Willie Baez can be emailed at willie_baez@yahoo.com.

Broadway comes to Hoboken

Monroe Theatrespace is set to host “Broadway in Hoboken” on Sunday, Jan. 20. A large collection of Broadway performers will come together for a performance set to benefit Hoboken residents affected by Hurricane Sandy. All ticket sales will go directly to Rebuild Hoboken. Tickets are $100 and are available through www.brownpapertickets.com. For more information call (646) 339-8485. Monroe Theatrespace is located at 720 Monroe St. Parking is available in the rear of the building.

Hoboken Grace launches uptown location

Hoboken Grace will hold one service instead of three at its new location on Sunday, Feb. 10 in celebration of its uptown launch. Feb. 10 will be the fifth birthday of Hoboken Grace. Starting on Feb. 17 the church will have services at its downtown location (301 Garden Street) at 9:30 a.m. and noon as well as a 10:30 a.m. service at the uptown location (800 Clinton Street). Children’s classes will be offered at the 9:30 and 10:30 a.m. services.

“As we move to two locations we are excited to bring everyone together for this one service to see the new space for the first time,” said Chris High, teaching pastor at Hoboken Grace.

For more information visit hobokengrace.com

The Hudson School awarded grant

In December 2011, the E.E. Ford Foundation awarded The Hudson School, located at 601 Park Ave., a prestigious $50,000 challenge grant to establish an endowed fund to support need-based financial aid for high school students from disadvantaged backgrounds. The Foundation's grant provided a built-in stimulus in the form of a challenge. In order to receive the grant, the school needed to raise at least $50,000 towards this program from other sources by December 2012.

The Hudson School has met the E.E. Ford Foundation’s challenge and raised $50,000. The school rallied support from current and past families, alumni, faculty and staff, board and community. The Hudson School was one of 18 independent schools nationwide selected last November to receive a grant from the Foundation. Not only will the grant help to underwrite one of the school’s strategic goals—to ensure sufficient funding for scholarships for students from diverse cultural and socio-economic backgrounds—it was also a significant endorsement of the school’s programs and mission. For more information visit www.thehudsonschool.org or call (201) 359-8335.

Frank’s kind of town, continuing Hoboken’s love of Sinatra

On Jan. 24, filmmakers John Bredin and Claudia Canasto will air a one-hour “Frank-o-phile” documentary filmed in Hoboken on 12/12/12, what would’ve been the 97th birthday of “Old Blue Eyes.” Highlights include visits to two treasure troves of Sinatra memorabilia: City Clerk Jimmy Farina’s office and Piccolo’s restaurant, along with interviews with local “born and raised” residents who faithfully keep the Sinatra spirit alive. The show also features a rare 1935 vinyl recording of Sinatra’s breakthrough performance with the “Hoboken Four” on the Major Bowes radio show, the American Idol of its time. The film will air on Bredin and Canasto’s weekly TV show Public Voice Salon at 8 p.m. on Cablevision channel 19.

All Saints Community Service and Development Corporation receives $15K

All Saints Community Service and Development Corporation in Hoboken was one of three Hudson non-profits that received a total of $75,000 in grants from The Horizon Foundation for New Jersey as part of the foundation’s fourth and final round of 2012 grants. All Saints received a grant of $15,000 to support its Jubilee Arts Project. The project provides afterschool and summer dance instruction and music and theatre programs for children ages 5 to 12 living in public housing in Hoboken.